Ballyvolane House

Originally built in 1728, Ballyvolane House is a magical house surrounded by woods, vast gardens and parkland. The house has a charming, peaceful and homely atmosphere. There are three trout lakes and the huge gardens are impeccably maintained by Jeremy Green. Jeremy and his late wife Merrie, a fly-fishing expert, first opened their home as luxurious country house accommodation for fishermen about twenty-five years ago, and it now run by their son Justin and his wife Jenny.

There’s a series of grand, well-proportioned reception rooms and the bedrooms have stunning views of the garden or park. The pillared hall has a baby grand piano and the huge drawing room to the rear overlooks the terraced lawns where fan-tail doves flutter. The bedrooms are spacious and comfortable and are described by Travel & Leisure Magazine as ‘having the loveliest, most peaceful views and are enduringly furnished with an organic assortment or wing chairs, alabaster lamps, sofas that are models of shabby chic’.

Farm to Fork

Guests enjoy delicious home-cooking in the grand dining room. The ingredients are grown in Ballyvolane’s own walled garden, reared on the farm and sourced from local artisan producers. There’s an excellent wine list and breakfast is served until noon.

Grass to Glass

Salmon Fishing on the River Blackwater

Ballyvolane has over six miles of privately-managed salmon fishing on the renowned river Blackwater, with a wide variety of spring and summer beats. Ballyvolane also operates a Fly Fishing School and runs courses throughout the season. There are also stocked trout lakes on the estate.

A Romantic Country House Venue

Ballyvolane House is the perfect setting for exclusive country house parties, weddings, gatherings and corporate retreats. Children and dogs are always welcome.

Ireland’s Gourmet & Cultural Riviera

County Cork has long been renowned for its artisan food producers and there are excellent farmers’ markets nearby. The beautiful Blackwater Valley is well worth exploring in detail, as are Fermoy, Lismore and Youghal. Fota House and Arboretum and Blarney Castle are nearby; Kinsale and Cork City are within easy reach, as is the Rock of Cashel, while Killarney, the Ring of Kerry and Waterford are both within a comfortable drive. On the coast there is sea fishing, beaches and wonderful coastal walks and elsewhere there is horse racing, traditional Irish music, and 23 golf courses all within an hour’s drive.

Bespoke Vintage Weddings at Ballyvolane House

Ballyvolane House is a magical setting for your wedding. Nestled deep in the beautiful north Cork countryside, Ballyvolane has been in the Green family for generations, so you and your wedding guests can enjoy a slice of home-from-home ancestral chic. Originally built in 1728, the house was remodelled in Victorian times to give it a more Italianate style; it’s filled with family heirlooms, portraits and antiques. The house is stylish, homely, has heaps of character and is more “house party” than hotel.

Stunning backdrop to your big day

On arrival, guests enter through the front door into the striking pillared hall with its Blüthner baby grand piano and hand-stencilled doors. The large drawing room at the rear overlooks vast terraced lawns where fan-tailed doves flutter. The drawing room can be used for the drinks reception or Civil Marriage Ceremonies. The formal gardens to the rear also provide the perfect setting for the drinks reception and lawn games. Ballyvolane has over 80-acres of manicured gardens, mature woodland, lakes and parkland to get lost in. Blessings and ceremonies in the woods, gardens or beside the lakes will ensure a stunning backdrop to your wedding wherever you decide to have it.

Unique Wedding Venue

We have a large rustic tin party shed for wedding ceremonies if it’s raining. The meal itself would be held in the vintage-style tent in the gardens (max capacity 140 guests) and the dancing and party would take place in the old stone barn which is attached to the marquee. Bare-foot or ballgowns, we are happy to accommodate all kinds of weddings. We are delighted to have made it into the One Fab Day 100 Best Wedding Venues.

Food glorious food is a huge part of what we do; we keep rare-breed pigs, hens and ducks and we grow a vast amount of vegetables in our walled garden. We forage and where possible, we source all our ingredients from local artisan producers. We are delighted to have won a Gold Medal Award 2015 in the ‘Field-to-Fork’ category in recognition of our approach to food.